Category Archives: Streaming

Iscariot was recently recommended as a band worth checking out, I decided to take a listen to Blood Doctrines (released August 9th), which is the latest E.P. from New York metal group Iscariot.

From what I have listened to so far, this sounds pretty badass. Six tracks including an into track of good modern death metal. If this is what they bring to the table I for one am looking forward to any future releases. It is a very reasonably priced E.P. available from many outlets including iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

Boston Death Metal act ” Beast Of Nod” bring the old school death metal and modern metal with some groove for the release of Arrival. Stream the E.P. below and also there is a fresh Lyric video for “Cephalopod of Doom”

Looking for something to listen to, well how about Vienna sludge band Throes, and their recently released album Koro. You can check out the track “Crepusculo Decrepitude” that explores the theme of recalling the futility of existence, utilizing a series of unsavory images that brings to mind cult works such as Begotten.

Tell us what you think, if you like this video here is the full album stream:

If you like what you hear check them out on their Facebook page for up to date news by clicking here facebook.com/throes

Purchase the digital album by going to their Bandcamp page (they don’t have a cost, its name your price. So if you do like it, show them support with a donation for their work)

Odyssey

Voids

Out February 5th, 2016

Guitar – Jerrick Crites
Bass – Jordan Hilker
Drums – Lukas Hilker

Emerge. Evolve. Adapt

The song begins with some muffled guitar tones playing and fading in, becoming clearer until they start playing a steady rhythm. I am enjoying this, it has a feel good groove about it, and then walks along the lines of something heavy. It’s not one hundred percent metal, these guys are blending several styles from metal, to fusion, some classic rock stylings. This is a solid track to start the album out with, and I get the first impression, that this is their simple song, the song that gives you a good first impression to get your attention. The hold down the groove, and really lay it on thick so you can be nodding your head, tapping your foot, rocking out in general, and really enjoy their unique intrumetal delivery.

Negate The Infinite

I called it, this is a bit more complex than the previous track, this band is not only playing some killer music in the form of instrumental metal, and they are bringing their talents for different music styles, and technical abilities to the table as well. Jerrick can definitely hold his own on the guitar. This has spawned the sudden urge to break out the air guitar. You know what I’m talking about, that moment you hear a sick riff, and you just want to rock out on the air guitar trying to follow the whirlwind shredding riff and all of its finger placements along the fret board. I always enjoy when I can hear the bass in most music because so often they get buried underneath, and some bassists can really deliver so sick bass lines. Jordan holds things down very well.

Like Moths To a Flame

It is way too early to say that this is my favorite track, but I have listened to this one a few times already. I am really digging the way they start this song off, that rhythm, and how they take it, play it for a few bars, add more dynamics to it, and progress with that foundation. The guitar hits us with some solo action around the 1:52 mark, and while it not a dizzying shredfest, it’s a soulful solo. The tempo is quick enough to keep your energy levels up there and your head nodding. This is a fun song to listen to, and what I really like is that Lukas is not trying to play over the guitar or bass. He is not trying to take the spotlight, and he is not hiding in the shadows either. He keeps the beat, keeps it interesting and does so by balancing his talents all across the boards, knowing when to play something with panache, and when to just keep the time.

Motives

The song starts with a heavier feel to it for the first ten seconds and then goes to a more fluid style. The guitar is playing out to some extent, without getting to flashy. I like the change around the 1:30 mark because it sets up the next section and you can see how they progress throughout the song. At the 2:25 mark, the drums and bass set things up for a very cool sequence of the drums keeping the beat and the guitar is playing a cool riff while it may be simple what he is doing, all three of them doing it together blends well and sounds awesome. The last minute of this song is badass, the guitar solo, how it starts out simple and then shreds for a few bars, the drums playing on the toms with the accents on the crash, while the guitar is also accenting on the same notes. This song ends in such a manner that it leaves you hoping that the next thing you hear is going to blow you away.

Echoes

The guitar riff with all of its echo and the bass doing what sounds like volume swells, playing like this for a bar or two and the drums come in with a rhythm to follow along, then progresses to what is like a 4:4 time signature. Evolving into something more but keeping that guitar pattern going. This song is a killer track, I love it, this will be making it to my playlists, as it has that badass beginning, but then when they bring it down a few notches. The guitar is playing with some soul, it reminds me of Clapton, and some Gilmour fused together. This song is one that leaves you reaching for the back button, you know if you haven’t hit that “repeat 1” button yet (which I have and l can’t stop listening to).

Before There Were Eyes To See

This song starts out with a thrash feel to it, and they get right down to the energy boosting rhythms with this song. I really like the old school vibe about it, the guitar solo starting around the 1: 30 mark is great. Jerrick plays a soulful solo and then ends with some shredding licks, only to take a quick breather and hit us with a dizzying riff, it’s a straight up hand cramping riff that lasts almost thirty seconds. They break the time down a bit and give it some accented points to only bring it down some more with the bass all alone setting up the next rhythm.

The Plot thickens

The song begins with a riff and a bit of mystery behind it, which really leads you to wonder which way they will be going. They don’t leave that amount of mystery in question long and dive right into a quick tempo pace with steady drums for the first section. The next change brings things down a slight amount with the drums being played on the toms, and then going into a jazzy feel for a bar, popping right back into a heavy feel again. WE haven’t even cleared two minutes in yet and they are jumping from style to style and giving the listener a brief moment to get acclimated to the change. All the while they do have a solid groove, that while they change tempo a few times that groove follows the entire time. The guitar solo though, Jerrick will be a more known name after this album I am sure of it. You don’t play the way he is on this and not get attention from it.

Delineation

This song starts a bit muffled with the introductory riff, yet you can hear the hi hat being hit, this is a very soothing beginning, I like that it is about to change and it does, the drum pattern on the hi hat accent the rhythm, the perpetual guitar riff and the bass hitting the groove in that low tone. This song seems like it could tell a story, it could leave you thinking about things in a different perspective, and will keep you hanging on every note for the entire 7:17 of song length.

Left Unspoken

This song starts out very smooth and melodic, this is a very relaxing tune so far, and I am certainly enjoying the vibe it gives off. This is like once of those intermission tracks, it’s not very long, it doesn’t have many changes, it’s just a cool soothing track to get you brought down from the last song and get you mentally prepared for the last track of the album, the title track.

Voids

This has a rock solid groove right out of the gate, this is actually a fun song by the sounds of it so far. I am betting they like to end on this song because it sounds like as much fun as it is to listen and enjoy this song, it’s a fun song to play. Jerrick though, he likes those hand cramping riffs I can tell. The song picks up the pace right around the 1:20 mark and delivers some energy inducing drums to get you going into the next change. This is a killer track, I mean that groove alone is highly enjoyable but right around the halfway point they mix things up and then those toms rolling out and setting up that slower more dramatic section. They throw down some funk right around the 3:40 mark where they just start to set it up, but yea you get to that point and they just brought the funk. And to answer your question, no they did not end the album without Jerrick delivering a face melting shredfest of a guitar solo.

This album is awesome, the amount of sound they pack in with only three members is impressive. The styles that can be heard throughout this album range from jazz and funk, to thrash and progressive metal. I couldnt pick just one song to be a favorite, but I will tell you that “Echoes” has been played a few dozen times, it is now my alarm clock sound, and a ringtone, as it is such a killer track. The album really is a an example of variety, not every song sounds the same, yet every song has its own style. Call me crazy but if this was to be paired the way people pair wine or beer with food. This album could be paired with ” The Algorithm” I would love to see maybe a split, where you have The Algorithm doing their thing, and Odyssey doing theirs because they would compliment each other so well. This album can be played any where, from the office to driving. With instrumental metal bands coming out more and more, I will say that this album would rank high in a list of instrumental metal album lists for 2016, if compared to the releases from 2015, I would put this higher than quite a few albums released last year. My only hope is that they eventually release it on vinyl, for my collection. Hands down a solid 8/10 rating is what Voids deserves, and you should pre order today! \m/

Check out this Album promo video they put up New Year’s Eve Check it out below.

Make sure to click HERE \m/ if you want to pre order either the physical or digital album.

After you do that you can stream their last release while you wait for “Voids” album to be released.

Having never heard of Dead Wake I came across this single they had put out a few months back. They are a metalcore band from New York, NY we are streaming the single from bandcamp

Left to Drown

This song fades in with a quick attack and comes in heavy and has a classic metalcore sound, but has elements of a progressive sound with clean vocals that has that similar sound to like Geddy Lee a higher pitched style of vocals. Not bad, I usually stay away from clean vocals when it comes to metal or hardcore. However some bands do a decent job staying away from the cliché style of clean vocals, and these guys walk that line. I personally dig the heavy portions of the song with the classic metalcore chugging rhythm.

Like this:

Coming off the road from their Eastern Canadian tour supporting Erimha and Killitorous this past November and December, Windsor, ON ghetto tech metallers THE APEX have posted live video performing ‘Glass Walls’ during their hometown stop of the tour. ‘Glass Walls’ is from their self-titled album released in early 2015

Stockholm, Sweden has been known to harness the power of some serious metal bands of all sub genres. It just so happens that Insision also hails from Stockholm, and can deliver some killer death metal, they have a new album getting ready for pre-order titled Terminal Reckoning.

Like this:

Like Animals

Feral E.P.

01/22/2016

Orillia, Ontario-based trio, Like Animals are currently streaming their most recent single Feral

From lineup change to personal hardships, FERAL is an honest view at how powerful emotion and dedication can be. A raw yet polished album encapsulates the feel and frenetic energy of past albums, while bringing forth a much more mature, refined sound. Soaring vocals, a battery of percussion, and meaty bass blends into a rich soundscape of changing moods.

Teetering on the edge of progressive metal, and hardrock, Like Animals put out another solid effort with this E.P.
Track explained by the band:

Feral – a very fitting opener. A dark, moody introduction, which quickly amps up the pace. Vocals soar, guitars wail. Things get quirky midway. Up and down and then up again, finally coming to a grinding halt like a bus about to smash ya.

For fans of Mars Volta, Fall of Troy, Protest The Hero, Every Time I Die check this EP out.